Method of monitoring transaction activity of payment cards associated with digital wallets

ABSTRACT

A method for selecting consumers for targeted messages is described, the method comprising the steps of generating a token for representing a payment card number, and storing in a token table, an association of a wallet service provider ID, a digital wallet ID, the payment card number and the token. The method further comprises the steps of analyzing transaction data in a transaction table, the transaction data comprising transactions, and determining that the token is inactive when at least one of a set of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The method further comprises the steps of identifying the digital wallet ID and the wallet service provider ID that is associated with the inactive token and providing the identified digital wallet ID to a digital wallet service provider server having the identified wallet service provider ID, the identified digital wallet ID associated with the consumer to be selected for targeted messages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following discloses a method and system for selecting consumers fortargeted messages.

BACKGROUND

Digital wallet service providers (for example Apple®, Samsung® andGoogle®) do not collect or store any transactional information. In fact,digital wallet service providers do not even have access to the paymentcard numbers of the payment cards which have been added to the digitalwallet. Digital wallet service providers would typically not want tomanage or store the transaction data as it is a potential data securityrisk.

As the digital wallet service providers are not privy to the transactioninformation of the digital wallets, digital wallet service providerswould not be able to tell which digital wallets are being actively used,and which digital wallets are not actively used. Therefore digitalwallet service providers would not be able to sieve out the inactiveconsumers, and send targeted promotions to these inactive consumers.

Therefore, there is a need for a method and system for selectingconsumers for targeted messages. More particularly, there is a need fora method and system for identifying consumers who are inactive, andselecting these inactive consumers for targeted messages.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will becomeapparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appendedclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and thisbackground of the disclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for selectingconsumers for targeted messages is described, the method comprising thesteps of generating at a platform, a token for representing a paymentcard number of a payment card, after the payment card has been added toa digital wallet, the digital wallet having a digital wallet ID; storingin a token table at the platform, an association of a wallet serviceprovider ID, the digital wallet ID, the payment card number and thetoken; and analyzing at the platform, transaction data in a transactiontable, the transaction data comprising transactions, and determiningthat the token is inactive when at least one of a set of predeterminedconditions is satisfied. The method further comprises the steps ofidentifying at the platform, the digital wallet ID and the walletservice provider ID that is associated with the inactive token in thetoken table; and providing from the platform the identified digitalwallet ID to a digital wallet service provider server having theidentified wallet service provider ID, the identified digital wallet IDassociated with the consumer to be selected for targeted messages.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data does not comprise anytransactions involving the token.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises at least onetransaction involving the token, and out of the at least one transactioninvolving the token, there is a latest transaction having a date, andthe time elapsed since the date of the latest transaction exceeds apredetermined period.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises a pluralityof transactions involving the token, the plurality of transactionsinvolving the token comprising a first group of transactions whichoccurred in a first period and a second group of transactions whichoccurred in a second period, the second period being later than thefirst period, and the number of transactions in the second group is lessthan the number of transactions in the first group by a predeterminedmargin.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises anotherplurality of transactions involving the token, each of the anotherplurality of transactions involving the token having a value, theanother plurality of transactions involving the token comprising a thirdgroup of transactions which occurred in a third period and a fourthgroup of transactions which occurred in a fourth period, the fourthperiod being later than the third period, and the combined value of thetransactions in the fourth group is less than the combined value of thetransactions in the third group by a predetermined threshold.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sending targetedmessages to the consumer associated with the identified digital walletID.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of assigning aconsumer category to the identified digital wallet ID based on which ofthe at least one of the set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of providing from theplatform to the digital wallet service provider server the assignedconsumer category and a description of the assigned consumer categorywith the identified digital wallet ID.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sending targetedmessages to the consumer associated with the identified digital walletID further comprises the step of sending targeted messages based uponthe assigned consumer category and the description of the assignedconsumer category.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of generating at theplatform, another token for representing the payment card number of thepayment card, after the payment card has been added to another digitalwallet, the another digital wallet having another digital wallet ID;storing in the token table at the platform, an association of anotherwallet service provider ID, the another digital wallet ID, the paymentcard number and the another token; analyzing at the platform transactiondata in the transaction table, and determining that the another token isinactive when the at least one of a set of predetermined conditions issatisfied; identifying at the platform, the another digital wallet IDand the another wallet service provider ID that is associated with theanother inactive token in the token table; determining at the platform,that the another inactive token is more inactive than the inactivetoken; and providing from the platform the another identified digitalwallet ID to another digital wallet service provider server having theanother identified wallet service provider ID, the another identifieddigital wallet ID associated with the consumer to be selected fortargeted messages.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of assigning anotherconsumer category to the another identified digital wallet ID.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sending targetedmessages to the consumer associated with the another identified digitalwallet ID.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of providing from theplatform to the another digital wallet service provider server theanother assigned consumer category and a description of the anotherassigned consumer category with the another identified digital walletID.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sending targetedmessages to the consumer associated with the another identified digitalwallet ID further comprises the step of sending targeted messages basedupon the another assigned consumer category and the description of theanother assigned consumer category.

Preferably, the digital wallet and the another digital wallet areinstalled on different consumer devices.

Preferably, the targeted messages contain any one of the following:offers, promotions, warnings and step by step instructions on using thedigital wallet.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a system for selectingconsumers for targeted messages is described, the system comprising aplatform having a database and at least one processor, the database forstoring a token table and a transaction table, and the at least oneprocessor configured to generate a token for representing a payment cardnumber of a payment card, after the payment card has been added to adigital wallet, the digital wallet having a digital wallet ID; store inthe token table, an association of a wallet service provider ID, thedigital wallet ID, the payment card number and the token; and analyzetransaction data in a transaction table, the transaction data comprisingtransactions, and determine that the token is inactive when at least oneof a set of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The at least oneprocessor is further configured to identify the digital wallet ID andthe wallet service provider ID that is associated with the inactivetoken in the token table and provide the identified digital wallet ID toa digital wallet service provider server having the identified walletservice provider ID, the identified digital wallet ID associated withthe consumer to be selected for targeted messages.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data does not comprise anytransactions involving the token.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises at least onetransaction involving the token, and out of the at least one transactioninvolving the token, there is a latest transaction having a date, andthe time elapsed since the date of the latest transaction exceeds apredetermined period.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises a pluralityof transactions involving the token, the plurality of transactionsinvolving the token comprising a first group of transactions whichoccurred in a first period and a second group of transactions whichoccurred in a second period, the second period being later than thefirst period, and the number of transactions in the second group is lessthan the number of transactions in the first group by a predeterminedmargin.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that the transaction data comprises anotherplurality of transactions involving the token, each of the anotherplurality of transactions involving the token having a value, theanother plurality of transactions involving the token comprising a thirdgroup of transactions which occurred in a third period and a fourthgroup of transactions which occurred in a fourth period, the fourthperiod being later than the third period, and the combined value of thetransactions in the fourth group is less than the combined value of thetransactions in the third group by a predetermined threshold.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to sendtargeted messages to the consumer associated with the identified digitalwallet ID.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to assign aconsumer category to the identified digital wallet ID based on which ofthe at least one of the set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to providefrom the platform to the digital wallet service provider server theassigned consumer category and a description of the assigned consumercategory with the identified digital wallet ID.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to sendtargeted messages to the consumer associated with the identified digitalwallet ID based upon the assigned consumer category and the descriptionof the assigned consumer category.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to generateanother token for representing the payment card number of the paymentcard, after the payment card has been added to another digital wallet,the another digital wallet having another digital wallet ID; store inthe token table, an association of another wallet service provider ID,the another digital wallet ID, the payment card number and the anothertoken; analyze transaction data in the transaction table, and determinethat the another token is inactive when the at least one of a set ofpredetermined conditions is satisfied; identify the another digitalwallet ID and the another wallet service provider ID that is associatedwith the another inactive token in the token table; determine that theanother inactive token is more inactive than the inactive token; andprovide the another identified digital wallet ID to another digitalwallet service provider server having the another identified walletservice provider ID, the another identified digital wallet ID associatedwith the consumer to be selected for targeted messages.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to sendtargeted messages to the consumer associated with the another identifieddigital wallet ID.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to assignanother consumer category to the another identified digital wallet ID.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to provideto the another digital wallet service provider server the anotherassigned consumer category and a description of the another assignedconsumer category with the another identified digital wallet ID.

Preferably, the at least one processor is further configured to sendtargeted messages to the consumer associated with the another identifieddigital wallet ID based upon the another assigned consumer category andthe description of the another assigned consumer category.

Preferably, the digital wallet and the another digital wallet areinstalled on different consumer devices.

Preferably, the targeted messages contain any one of the following:offers, promotions, warnings and step by step instructions on using thedigital wallet.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a computer program productfor selecting consumers for targeted messages is described, the computerprogram product having a computer readable storage medium havingcomputer readable program code configured to generate a token forrepresenting a payment card number of a payment card, after the paymentcard has been added to a digital wallet, the digital wallet having adigital wallet ID; store in a token table, an association of a walletservice provider ID, the digital wallet ID, the payment card number andthe token; analyze transaction data in a transaction table, thetransaction data comprising transactions, and determine that the tokenis inactive when at least one of a set of predetermined conditions issatisfied; identify the digital wallet ID and the wallet serviceprovider ID that is associated with the inactive token in the tokentable; and provide the identified digital wallet ID to a digital walletservice provider server having the identified wallet service providerID, the identified digital wallet ID associated with the consumer to beselected for targeted messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which together with the detailed description below are incorporatedin and form part of the specification, serve to illustrate variousembodiments, by way of example only, and to explain various principlesand advantages in accordance with a present embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a system for selecting consumers for targeted messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart depicting a method for selecting consumers fortargeted messages in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary token table.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary transaction table.

FIG. 5 shows a system for identifying consumers who are more active inusing one digital wallet over another.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart depicting a method for identifying consumerswho are more active using one digital wallet over another.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary platform for performing the functions inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendepicted to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elementsin the block diagrams or steps in the flowcharts may be exaggerated inrespect to other elements to help improve understanding of the presentembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of theinvention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theorypresented in the preceding background of the invention or the followingdetailed description. It is the intent of the preferred embodiments todisclose a method and system for selecting consumers for targetedmessages.

The invention achieves the above objectives by disclosing a platformthat generates a token for representing a payment card number of apayment card after the digitization of the payment card. Thedigitization involves the payment card being added to a digital wallet,the digital wallet belonging to a consumer. The digital wallet serviceprovider supplies the digital wallet ID to the platform as part of thetoken generation process. The digital wallet service provider alsosupplies the wallet service provider ID to the platform. The platformstores the digital wallet ID, the payment card number and the token in atoken table. The platform references a transaction table. Thetransaction table comprises transaction data, and the transaction datacomprises transactions.

The platform analyzes the transaction data, and determines that thetoken is inactive when at least one of a set of predetermined conditionsis satisfied. The set of predetermined conditions includes thepredetermined condition that (1) the transaction data does not compriseany transactions involving the token, (2) the transaction data comprisesat least one transaction involving the token, and out of the at leastone transaction involving the token, there is a latest transactionhaving a date, and the time elapsed since the date of the latesttransaction exceeds a predetermined period, (3) the transaction datacomprises a plurality of transactions involving the token, the pluralityof transactions involving the token comprising a first group oftransactions which occurred in a first period and a second group oftransactions which occurred in a second period, the second period beinglater than the first period, and the number of transactions in thesecond group is less than the number of transactions in the first groupby a predetermined margin, and (4) the predetermined condition that thetransaction data comprises a plurality of transactions involving thetoken, each of the plurality of transactions involving the token havinga value, the plurality of transactions involving the token comprising afirst group of transactions which occurred in a first period and asecond group of transactions which occurred in a second period, thesecond period being later than the first period, and the combined valueof the transactions in the second group is less than the combined valueof the transactions in the first group by a predetermined margin.

The platform then references the token table and identifies the digitalwallet ID that is associated with the inactive token. The platform thenprovides the identified digital wallet ID to the digital wallet serviceprovider, who will in turn send the consumer associated with theidentified digital wallet ID targeted messages. The targeted messagescan contain offers or promotions to encourage consumers to use theirdigital wallet. The targeted messages can also contain warnings to warnconsumers that if they do not increase the usage of their digitalwallet, their digital wallet will be deactivated. The targeted messagescan also contain step by step instructions to guide consumers on how touse their digital wallet. The invention therefore advantageouslyidentifies the select group of people who are inactive in the use oftheir digital wallets. The dataset can also be monetized when it isshared or sold to digital wallet service providers. The digital walletservice providers can then send these inactive consumers targetedmessages containing promotions and offers. Alternatively, the platformcan send targeted messages containing promotions and offers directly tothe inactive consumers.

There can be scenarios where a consumer has added the same payment cardto a first digital wallet (for example Apple Pay®) managed by onedigital wallet service provider (for example Apple®), and a seconddigital wallet (for example Google Wallet®) managed by another digitalwallet service provider (for example Google®). The platform willtherefore generate a token for the first digital wallet and generateanother token for the second digital wallet. The first digital walletcan be installed on a first consumer device while the second digitalwallet can be installed on a second consumer device. In this embodimentof the invention, the platform is not only capable of determiningwhether or not the two tokens are inactive, but also capable ofdetermining which of the two tokens is more inactive. This determinationis useful to a digital wallet service provider as this can serve as anindication that the consumer has “switched” digital wallets and is moreactively making purchases with a digital wallet from another digitalwallet service provider. The digital wallet service provider cantherefore take remedial steps to convince the consumer to start activelyusing its digital wallet again by providing more incentives throughtargeted messages containing offers and promotions.

In an embodiment of the invention, the platform assigns a consumercategory to the identified digital wallet ID based on which of the atleast one of the set of predetermined conditions is satisfied. Inadvantageously classifying or categorizing how “inactive” a consumer is,this information would be very useful to digital wallet serviceproviders in tailoring their promotions. The targeted messagescontaining promotions and offers are then sent to the consumer basedupon the consumer category assigned to the identified digital wallet ID.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the drawings. Like reference numeralsand characters in the drawings refer to like elements or equivalents.

Some portions of the description which follows are explicitly orimplicitly presented in terms of algorithms and functional or symbolicrepresentations of operations on data within a computer memory. Thesealgorithmic descriptions and functional or symbolic representations arethe means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to conveymost effectively the substance of their work to others skilled in theart. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The stepsare those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities, suchas electrical, magnetic or optical signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated.

The present specification also discloses apparatus for performing theoperations of the methods. Such apparatus may be specially constructedfor the required purposes, or may comprise a computer or other deviceselectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored inthe computer. The algorithms and displays presented herein are notinherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus.Various machines may be used with programs in accordance with theteachings herein. Alternatively, the construction of more specializedapparatus to perform the required method steps may be appropriate. Thestructure of a computer will appear from the description below.

In addition, the present specification also implicitly discloses acomputer program, in that it would be apparent to the person skilled inthe art that the individual steps of the method described herein may beput into effect by computer code. The computer program is not intendedto be limited to any particular programming language and implementationthereof. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languagesand coding thereof may be used to implement the teachings of thedisclosure contained herein. Moreover, the computer program is notintended to be limited to any particular control flow. There are manyother variants of the computer program, which can use different controlflows without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Furthermore, one or more of the steps of the computer program may beperformed in parallel rather than sequentially. Such a computer programmay be stored on any computer readable medium. The computer readablemedium may include storage devices such as magnetic or optical disks,memory chips, or other storage devices suitable for interfacing with acomputer. The computer readable medium may also include a hard-wiredmedium such as exemplified in the Internet system, or wireless mediumsuch as exemplified in the GSM mobile telephone system. The computerprogram when loaded and executed on such a general-purpose computereffectively results in an apparatus that implements the steps of thepreferred method.

FIG. 1 shows a system for selecting consumers for targeted messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system comprisesplatform 101. Preferably, platform 101 comprises token table 102 andtransaction table 103. Preferably, token table 102 and transaction table103 are stored in a database in platform 101. Alternatively, token table102 and transaction table 103 are stored in a remote database accessibleby platform 101. Preferably, platform 101 may be maintained or managedby a payment processing company, for example, MasterCard®.

When a consumer wishes to add a payment card (for example, credit cardor debit card) to digital wallet 107 on consumer device 104, a conceptknown as “provisioning”, the consumer will use consumer device 104 tosend payment card number 105 of his payment card to digital walletservice provider server 106. Digital wallet 107 is provided and managedby digital wallet service provider server 106. Digital wallet serviceprovider server 106 is run by a digital wallet service provider such asApple®, Samsung® and Google®. Digital wallet service provider server 106has a unique wallet service provider ID 109 while digital wallet 107 hasa unique digital wallet ID 108. After digital wallet 107 has beenprovisioned with the payment card, digital wallet service providerserver 106 sends digital wallet ID 108, wallet service provider ID 109and payment card number 105 to platform 101 to initiate the tokenizationprocess. Digital wallet service provider server 106 also sends walletservice provider ID 109 to platform 101.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart depicting a method for selecting consumers fortargeted messages in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Instep 201, digital wallet service provider server 106 sends digitalwallet ID 108, wallet service provider ID 109 and payment card number105 to platform 101 to initiate the tokenization process.

In step 202, platform 101 generates token 301 (see FIG. 3 ) to tokenizepayment card number 105. Tokenization is the process of substituting asensitive data element, in this case the payment card number 105, with anon-sensitive equivalent, referred to as a token. A token by itself hasno extrinsic or exploitable meaning or value. The token is a reference(i.e. identifier) that maps back to the payment card number 105 througha tokenization system.

In step 203, platform 101 stores token 301, with the associated paymentcard number 105, digital wallet ID 108 and wallet service provider ID109 in token table 300. FIG. 3 provides an exemplary token table 300having exemplary values.

In step 204, platform 101 references transaction table 400. Transactiontable 400 contains transaction data, and preferably, the transactiondata comprises transactions 401 for token 301. Preferably, thetransaction data also comprises date transaction occurred 402 for eachtransaction 401. Preferably, the transaction data also comprises value403 for each transaction 401. The transaction data in transaction table400 is populated and updated every time a transaction occurs.

In step 205, platform 101 analyzes the transaction data in transactiontable 400 to determine that token 301 is inactive when at least one of aset of predetermined conditions is satisfied. Preferably, the set ofpredetermined conditions includes predetermined condition one, which isthe predetermined condition that the transaction data does not compriseany transactions 401 involving token 301. An illustration is provided inFIG. 4 in that there are no transactions 401 in the transaction data oftransaction table 400 involving “Token 8” 301. Based on predeterminedcondition one, platform 101 determines that “Token 8” 301 has not beenused since the tokenization process and that “Token 8” 301 is inactive.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes predeterminedcondition two, which is the predetermined condition that the transactiondata comprises at least one transaction 401 involving token 301, and outof the at least one transaction 401 involving token 301, there is alatest transaction 401 having a date, and the time elapsed since thedate of the latest transaction 401 exceeds a predetermined period. Anillustration is provided in FIG. 4 in that “Transaction 1” 401 and“Transaction 2” 401 involves “Token 1” 301. “Transaction 1” 401 occurredon “1-25-2015” 402 while “Transaction 2” 401 occurred on “7-1-2015” 402.“Transaction 2” 401 is therefore the latest transaction 401. Assumingcurrent date is Sep. 1, 2015, and assuming the predetermined period isone month, therefore more than one month has elapsed since “Transaction2” 401. Based on predetermined condition two, platform 101 determinesthat “Token 1” 301 has not been used for more than a month and that“Token 1” 301 is inactive.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes predeterminedcondition three, which is the predetermined condition that thetransaction data comprises a plurality of transactions 401 involvingtoken 301, the plurality of transactions 401 involving token 301comprising a first group of transactions 401 which occurred in a firstperiod and a second group of transactions 401 which occurred in a secondperiod, the second period being later than the first period, and thenumber of transactions 401 in the second group is less than the numberof transactions 401 in the first group 401 by a predetermined margin. Anillustration is provided in FIG. 4 in that “Transaction 3” 401,“Transaction 4” 401, “Transaction 5” 401 and “Transaction 6” 401 involve“Token 2” 301. “Transaction 3” 401 occurred on “7-30-2015” 402,“Transaction 4” 401 occurred on “7-12-2015” 402, “Transaction 5” 401occurred on “7-30-2015” 402 while “Transaction 6” 401 occurred on“8-8-2015” 402. Assuming the first period is the month of July,therefore as “Transaction 3” 401, “Transaction 4” 401 and “Transaction5” 401 occurred in the month of July, the transaction count for “Token2” 301 for the month of July is three. Assuming the second period is themonth of August, therefore as “Transaction 6” 401 occurred in the monthof August, the transaction count for “Token 2” 301 for the month ofAugust is one. Based on predetermined condition three, and assuming thepredetermined margin is >1, platform 101 determines that the transactioncount (or number of transactions) for “Token 2” 301 has dropped by morethan one transaction from the month of July to the month of August andthat “Token 2” 301 is inactive.

Preferably, the set of predetermined conditions includes predeterminedcondition four, which is the predetermined condition that thetransaction data comprises a plurality of transactions 401 involvingtoken 301, each of the plurality of transactions 401 involving token 301having value 403, the plurality of transactions 401 involving token 301comprising a third group of transactions 401 which occurred in a thirdperiod and a fourth group of transactions 401 which occurred in a fourthperiod, the fourth period being later than the third period, and thecombined value 403 of the transactions 401 in the fourth group is lessthan the combined value 403 of the transactions 401 in the third groupby a predetermined threshold. An illustration is provided in FIG. 4 inthat “Transaction 7” 401, “Transaction 8” 401, and “Transaction 9” 401involve “Token 3” 301. “Transaction 7” 401 occurred on “7-21-2015” 402,“Transaction 8” 401 occurred on “8-15-2015” 402, while “Transaction 9”401 occurred on “8-27-2015” 402. “Transaction 7” 401 has value $200 403,“Transaction 8” 401 has value $30 403, while “Transaction 9” 401 hasvalue $50 403. Assuming the third period is the month of July, thereforeas “Transaction 7” 401 occurred in the month of July, the combined value403 for “Token 3” 301 for the month of July is $200. Assuming the fourthperiod is the month of August, therefore as “Transaction 8” 401 and“Transaction 9” 401 occurred in the month of August, the combined value403 for “Token 3” 301 for the month of August is $80. Based onpredetermined condition four, and assuming the predetermined thresholdis >$100, platform 101 determines that the combined value 403 for “Token3” 301 has dropped by more than $100 from the month of July to the monthof August and that “Token 3” 301 is inactive.

In step 206, platform 101 references token table 300 to identify digitalwallet ID 108 and wallet service provider ID 109 that is associated withthe inactive token 301.

In step 207, platform 101 provides the identified digital wallet ID 108to digital wallet service provider server 106, the identified digitalwallet ID 108 associated with the consumer to be selected for targetedmessages. Platform 101 is able to determine that identified digitalwallet ID 108 is to be provided to digital wallet service providerserver 106 because of wallet service provider ID 109. Digital walletservice provider server 106 then sends the targeted messages to theconsumer via emails, or text messages to consumer device 104, or via anydelivery means or medium known in the art. However, in some embodiments,it is contemplated that platform 101 can send the targeted messagesdirectly to the consumer. The targeted messages can contain offers orpromotions to encourage use of digital wallet 107. The targeted messagescan also contain warnings to warn consumers that if the consumers do notincrease the usage of digital wallet 107, digital wallet 107 will bedeactivated. The targeted messages can also contain step by stepinstructions to guide consumers on how to use digital wallet 107.

Preferably, platform 101 assigns a consumer category to identifieddigital wallet ID 108 based on which one of the set of predeterminedconditions was satisfied (i.e. predetermined condition one,predetermined condition two, predetermined condition three orpredetermined condition four). For example, if more than onepredetermined condition (for example, predetermined condition three andpredetermined condition four) are satisfied, the consumer categoryassigned to the identified digital wallet ID 108 may be “highlyinactive”. Therefore, based on which ones or how many of thepredetermined conditions are satisfied, platform 101 will assign anappropriate consumer category to the identified digital wallet ID 108.The identified digital wallet ID 108, the assigned consumer category anda description of the consumer category will be sent to digital walletservice providers. Below are examples of the consumer categories andtheir corresponding descriptions:

“Consumer Category One” which describes consumers who did not transacttill date, will be assigned to identified digital wallet ID 108 whichsatisfied predetermined condition one;

“Consumer Category Two” which describes consumers who did not transactfor the last 30 days, will be assigned to identified digital wallet ID108 which satisfied predetermined condition two;

“Consumer Category Three” which describes consumers who did not transactfor the last 60 days, will be assigned to identified digital wallet ID108 which satisfied predetermined condition two;

“Consumer Category Four” which describes consumers whose transactioncount has decreased by 90%, will be assigned to identified digitalwallet ID 108 which satisfied predetermined condition three;

“Consumer Category Five” which describes consumers whose transactionvalue has decreased by 90%, will be assigned to identified digitalwallet ID 108 which satisfied predetermined condition four;

“Consumer Category Six” which describes consumers whose transactionvalue and transaction count has decreased by 90%, will be assigned toidentified digital wallet ID 108 which satisfied predetermined conditionthree and predetermined condition four.

Providing the identified digital wallet IDs 108 along with the assignedconsumer categories and corresponding descriptions is useful as itprovides some measure to the digital wallet service providers on howinactive the consumer actually is.

In an embodiment, platform 101 is capable of identifying consumers whoare more active in using one digital wallet over another. FIG. 5 shows asystem where a consumer provisions the same payment card on a firstdigital wallet (for example Apple Pay®) managed by one digital walletservice provider (for example Apple®), and on a second digital wallet(for example Google Wallet®) managed by another digital wallet serviceprovider (for example Google®). Digital wallet 501 represents the firstdigital wallet and digital wallet 502 represents the second digitalwallet. Preferably, digital wallet 501 and digital wallet 502 areinstalled on different consumer devices. As illustrated in FIG. 5 ,digital wallet 501 is installed on consumer device 104 while digitalwallet 502 is installed on consumer device 114. The consumer provisionspayment card number 503 onto digital wallet 501 by using consumer device104 to send payment card number 503 to digital wallet service providerserver 504. The consumer provisions payment card number 503 onto digitalwallet 502 by using consumer device 114 to send payment card number 503to digital wallet service provider server 507. FIG. 6 shows a flowchartdepicting a method for identifying consumers who are more active usingone digital wallet over another.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , in step 601, digital wallet serviceprovider server 504 sends digital wallet ID 505 of digital wallet 501,wallet service provider ID 506 and payment card number 503 to platform101 to initiate the tokenization process.

In step 602, platform 101 generates token 310 to tokenize payment cardnumber 503 for digital wallet ID 505.

In step 603, platform 101 stores token 310, with the associated paymentcard number 503, digital wallet ID 505 and wallet service provider ID506 in token table 300.

In step 604, digital wallet service provider server 507 sends digitalwallet ID 508 of digital wallet 502, wallet service provider ID 509 andpayment card number 503 to platform 101 to initiate the tokenizationprocess.

In step 605, platform 101 generates token 311 to tokenize payment cardnumber 503 for digital wallet ID 508.

In step 606, platform 101 stores token 311, with the associated paymentcard number 503, digital wallet ID 508 and wallet service provider ID509 in token table 300.

In step 607, platform 101 references transaction table 400. Transactiontable 400 contains transaction data, and preferably, the transactiondata comprises transactions 401 for token 310 and token 311.

In step 608, platform 101 analyzes the transaction data in transactiontable 400 to determine that token 310 is inactive when at least one of aset of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The set of predeterminedconditions can be the same set of predetermined conditions describedabove. For example, the predetermined condition can be predeterminedcondition two, which is the predetermined condition that the transactiondata comprises at least one transaction 401 involving token 310, and outof the at least one transaction 401 involving token 310, there is alatest transaction 401 having a date, and the time elapsed since thedate of the latest transaction 401 exceeds a predetermined period. Anillustration is provided in FIG. 4 in that “Transaction 15” 401 involvestoken 310. “Transaction 15” 401 occurred on “1-20-2015” 402. Assumingcurrent date is Sep. 1, 2015, and assuming the predetermined period isone month, therefore more than one month has elapsed since “Transaction15” 401. Based on predetermined condition two, platform 101 determinesthat token 310 has not been used for more than a month and that token310 is inactive.

In step 609, platform 101 analyzes the transaction data in transactiontable 400 to determine that token 311 is inactive when at least one of aset of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The set of predeterminedconditions can be the same set of predetermined conditions describedabove. For example, the predetermined condition can be predeterminedcondition two, which is the predetermined condition that the transactiondata comprises at least one transaction 401 involving token 311, and outof the at least one transaction 401 involving token 311, there is alatest transaction 401 having a date, and the time elapsed since thedate of the latest transaction 401 exceeds a predetermined period. Anillustration is provided in FIG. 4 in that “Transaction 16” 401 involvestoken 311. “Transaction 16” 401 occurred on “7-1-2015” 402. Assumingcurrent date is Sep. 1, 2015, and assuming the predetermined period isone month, therefore more than one month has elapsed since “Transaction16” 401. Based on predetermined condition two, platform 101 determinesthat token 311 has not been used for more than a month and that token311 is inactive.

In step 610, platform 101 references token table 300 to identify digitalwallet ID 505, wallet service provider ID 506, and payment card number503 that is associated with the inactive token 310.

In step 611, platform 101 references token table 300 to identify digitalwallet ID 508, wallet service provider ID 509, and payment card number503 that is associated with the inactive token 311.

In step 612, platform 101 determines that inactive token 310 andinactive token 311 are associated with the same payment card number 503.

In step 613, platform 101 determines which token (310, 311) is moreinactive, and provides the digital wallet ID (505, 508) of the moreinactive token to the relevant digital wallet service provider server(504, 507). For example, if platform 101 determines that token 310 ismore inactive than token 311 (due to the fact that the last transactionfor token 310 occurred on “1-20-2015” 402 when compared to the lasttransaction for token 311 which occurred on “1-07-2015” 402), platform101 will identify from token table 300 that token 310 is associated withdigital wallet ID 505 and wallet service provider ID 506, and platform101 will then send digital wallet ID 505 to digital wallet serviceprovider server 504. Preferably, platform 101 assigns a consumercategory to digital wallet ID 505. For example, the consumer categorycan be “Consumer Category Seven”. The consumer category can have acorresponding description which describes consumers who are not asactive using this digital wallet, but is more active using anotherdigital wallet. Digital wallet ID 505, the assigned consumer categoryalong with the corresponding description can be sent to digital walletservice provider server 504. This information is useful to the digitalwallet service provider as this can serve as an indication that theconsumer has “switched” digital wallets (i.e. from digital wallet 501 todigital wallet 502) and is more actively making purchases with digitalwallet 502. The digital wallet service provider can therefore takeremedial steps to convince the consumer to start actively using digitalwallet 501 again by providing more incentives through targeted messagescontaining offers and promotions.

The following description of platform 101 is provided by way of exampleonly and is not intended to be limiting. Platform 101 may comprise of aserver or a plurality of servers. As shown in FIG. 7 , the exemplaryplatform 101 includes a processor 704 for executing software routines.Although a single processor is shown for the sake of clarity, platform101 may also include a multi-processor system. The processor 704 isconnected to a communication infrastructure 706 for communication withother components of platform 101. The communication infrastructure 706may include, for example, a communications bus, cross-bar, or network.Platform 101 further includes a main memory 708, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), and a secondary memory 710.

The secondary memory 710 may include, for example, a storage drive 712,which may be a hard disk drive, a solid state drive or a hybrid driveand/or a removable storage drive 714, which may include a magnetic tapedrive, an optical disk drive, a solid state storage drive (such as a USBflash drive, a flash memory device, a solid state drive or a memorycard), or the like. The removable storage drive 714 reads from and/orwrites to a removable storage medium 744 in a well-known manner. Theremovable storage medium 744 may include magnetic tape, optical disk,non-volatile memory storage medium, or the like, which is read by andwritten to by removable storage drive 714. As will be appreciated bypersons skilled in the relevant art(s), the removable storage medium 744includes a computer readable storage medium having stored thereincomputer executable program code instructions and/or data. In analternative implementation, the secondary memory 710 may additionally oralternatively include other similar means for allowing computer programsor other instructions to be loaded into platform 101. Such means caninclude, for example, a removable storage unit 722. Examples of aremovable storage unit 722 include a program cartridge and cartridgeinterface (such as that found in video game console devices), aremovable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket,a removable solid state storage drive (such as a USB flash drive, aflash memory device, a solid state drive or a memory card), and otherremovable storage units 722 which allow software and data to betransferred from the removable storage unit 722 to platform 101.

Platform 101 also includes at least one communication interface 724. Thecommunication interface 724 allows software and data to be transferredbetween platform 101 and external devices via a communication path 726.In various embodiments of the inventions, the communication interface724 permits data to be transferred between platform 101 and a datacommunication network, such as a public data or private datacommunication network. Examples of a communication interface 724 caninclude a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), acommunication port (such as a serial, parallel, printer, GPIB, IEEE1394, RJ45, USB), an antenna with associated circuitry and the like. Thecommunication interface 724 may be wired or may be wireless. Softwareand data transferred via the communication interface 724 are in the formof signals which can be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or othersignals capable of being received by communication interface 724. Thesesignals are provided to the communication interface via thecommunication path 726.

Software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded intoplatform 101 using the removable storage drive 714, the storage drive712, or the interface 740. Alternatively, the computer program productmay be downloaded to platform 101 over the communications path 726. Thesoftware, when executed by the processor 704, causes platform 101 toperform functions of embodiments described herein. It is to beunderstood that the embodiment of FIG. 7 is presented merely by way ofexample. Therefore, in some embodiments one or more features of platform101 may be omitted. Also, in some embodiments, one or more features ofplatform 101 may be combined together. Additionally, in someembodiments, one or more features of platform 101 may be split into oneor more component parts.

As used herein, the term “computer program product” may refer, in part,to removable storage medium 744, removable storage unit 722, a hard diskinstalled in storage drive 712, or a carrier wave carrying software overcommunication path 726 (wireless link or cable) to communicationinterface 724. Computer readable storage media refers to anynon-transitory, non-volatile tangible storage medium that providesrecorded instructions and/or data to platform 101 for execution and/orprocessing. Examples of such storage media include magnetic tape,CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray™ Disc, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integratedcircuit, a solid state storage drive (such as a USB flash drive, a flashmemory device, a solid state drive or a memory card), a hybrid drive, amagneto-optical disk, or a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA cardand the like, whether or not such devices are internal or external ofplatform 101. Examples of transitory or non-tangible computer readabletransmission media that may also participate in the provision ofsoftware, application programs, instructions and/or data to platform 101include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a networkconnection to another computer or networked device, and the Internet orIntranets including e-mail transmissions and information recorded onWebsites and the like.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, and as apparent from thefollowing, it will be appreciated that throughout the presentspecification, discussions utilizing terms such as “scanning”,“calculating”, “determining”, “replacing”, “generating”, “initializing”,“outputting”, or the like, refer to the action and processes of acomputer system, or similar electronic device, that manipulates andtransforms data represented as physical quantities within the computersystem into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system or other information storage, transmission ordisplay devices.

In the application, unless specified otherwise, the terms “comprising”,“comprise”, and grammatical variants thereof, intended to represent“open” or “inclusive” language such that they include recited elementsbut also permit inclusion of additional, non-explicitly recitedelements.

It will be apparent that various other modifications and adaptations ofthe application will be apparent to the person skilled in the art afterreading the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit andscope of the application and it is intended that all such modificationsand adaptations come within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of monitoring transaction activityof payment cards associated with digital wallets, the method comprising:providing a platform separately from the digital wallets, the platformincluding at least one server, with at least one processor, and adatabase stored on the at least one server; in response to a paymentcard being added to a digital wallet maintained by a digital walletservice provider, sending, by the digital wallet service provider, tothe platform, a payment card number of the payment card, a digitalwallet ID associated with the digital wallet, and, a wallet serviceprovider ID associated with the digital wallet service provider;receiving, at the platform, the payment card number, the digital walletID, and the wallet service provider ID; generating, by the platform, atoken associated with the payment card number; storing in a token table,located in the database, an association of the wallet service providerID, the digital wallet ID, and the token; storing transaction data in atransaction table, located in the database, associations between thetoken and dates and values of transactions included in the transactiondata; identifying, at the platform, the transactions associated with thetoken to determine if the token is active based on at least one of a setof predetermined conditions including one or more of: occurrences of thetransactions associated with the token, frequency of the transactionsassociated with the token and values of the transactions associated withthe token, wherein if the token is determined to not be active, thetoken is identified as inactive; if the token is determined to beinactive, identifying at the platform, the digital wallet ID and thewallet service provider ID that are associated with the inactive tokenin the token table; providing from the platform to the digital walletservice provider associated with the wallet service provider ID, theidentified digital wallet ID; alerting a consumer associated with theidentified digital wallet ID of insufficient activity related to theidentified digital wallet ID.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the setof predetermined conditions includes determining if the token is activeby comparing a quantity of the occurrences of the transactionsassociated with the token with a predetermined value.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the set of predetermined conditions includes determiningif the token is active by comparing the date of a first of thetransactions associated with the token, with the date of a second of thetransactions associated with the token to determine if the time elapsedbetween the first and second transactions is within a predeterminedperiod.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of predeterminedconditions includes determining if the token is active by comparing afirst quantity, occurring during a first time period, of thetransactions associated with the token, with a second quantity,occurring during a second time period, of the transactions associatedwith the token, the second time period being later than the first timeperiod, to determine if the second quantity is within a predeterminedmargin of the first quantity.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the setof predetermined conditions includes determining if the token is activeby comparing a first set, occurring during a first time period, of thetransactions associated with the token, with a second set, occurringduring a second time period, of the transactions associated with thetoken, the second time period being later than the first time period, todetermine if the combined value of the second set of the transactionsassociated with the token is within a predetermined margin of thecombined value of the first set of the transactions associated with thetoken.
 6. A system for monitoring transaction activity of payment cardsassociated with digital wallets, the system comprising: a platformseparate from the digital wallets, the platform including at least oneserver, with at least one processor, and a database stored on the atleast one server, the at least one processor including non-transitoryinstructions associated therewith configured to cause the platform to:in response to a payment card being added to a digital wallet maintainedby a digital wallet service provider, receive, from the digital walletservice provider, a payment card number of the payment card, a digitalwallet ID associated with the digital wallet, and, a wallet serviceprovider ID associated with the digital wallet service provider;generate a token associated with the payment card number; store in atoken table, located in the database, an association of the walletservice provider ID, the digital wallet ID, and the token; storetransaction data in a transaction table, located in the database,associations between the token and dates and values of transactionsincluded in the transaction data; identify the transactions associatedwith the token to determine if the token is active based on at least oneof a set of predetermined conditions including one or more of:occurrences of the transactions associated with the token, frequency ofthe transactions associated with the token and values of thetransactions associated with the token, wherein if the token isdetermined to not be active, the token is identified as inactive; if thetoken is determined to be inactive, identify the digital wallet ID andthe wallet service provider ID that are associated with the inactivetoken in the token table; provide to the digital wallet service providerassociated with the wallet service provider ID, the identified digitalwallet ID; alert a consumer associated with the identified digitalwallet ID of insufficient activity related to the identified digitalwallet ID.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the set of predeterminedconditions includes determining if the token is active by comparing aquantity of the occurrences of the transactions associated with thetoken with a predetermined value.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein theset of predetermined conditions includes determining if the token isactive by comparing the date of a first of the transactions associatedwith the token, with the date of a second of the transactions associatedwith the token to determine if the time elapsed between the first andsecond transactions is within a predetermined period.
 9. The system ofclaim 6 wherein the set of predetermined conditions includes determiningif the token is active by comparing a first quantity, occurring during afirst time period, of the transactions associated with the token, with asecond quantity, occurring during a second time period, of thetransactions associated with the token, the second time period beinglater than the first time period, to determine if the second quantity iswithin a predetermined margin of the first quantity.
 10. The system ofclaim 6 wherein the set of predetermined conditions includes determiningif the token is active by comparing a first set, occurring during afirst time period, of the transactions associated with the token, with asecond set, occurring during a second time period, of the transactionsassociated with the token, the second time period being later than thefirst time period, to determine if the combined value of the second setof the transactions associated with the token is within a predeterminedmargin of the combined value of the first set of the transactionsassociated with the token.